The Volunteer; or, It Is My Country's Call

I leave my home and thee, dear, with sorrow at my heart,
It is my country's call, dear, to aid her, I depart;
And on the blood-red battle plain, we'll conquer or we'll die;
'Tis for our honor and our name, we raise the battle-cry.

CHORUS.--Then weep not, dearest, weep not, if in the cause I fall;
Oh, weep not, dearest, weep not, it is my country's call.

And yet, my heart is sore, love, to see thee weeping thus;
But mark me, there's no fear, love, for in Heaven is our trust;
And if the heavy drooping tear swells in my mournful eye,
It is that Northmen of our land should cause the battle-cry.
CHORUS.

Our rights have been usurp'd, dear, by Northmen of land;
Fanatics rais'd the cry, dear, politicians fired the brand;
The Southrons spurn the galling yoke, the tyrants' threats defy;
They find we've sons like sturdy oaks to raise the battle-cry.
CHORUS.

I knew you'd let me go, pet, I saw it in that tear,
To join the gallant men, pet, who never yet knew fear;
With Beauregard and Davis, we'll gain our cause or die;
Win battles like Manassas, and raise the battle-cry.
CHORUS.